John Curtis KC5514 and Dick Wollam US4882 at the 2024 Western Region Championship. Photo Gretchen Dorian
Via Central Region Commodore Pete Johanson
Hi all,
Due to holiday travels and weather, I am making the early call and putting Centrals on hold until December 28 – 29. Temperatures in Michigan will be cold at the end of the week through the weekend, and I imagine there will be sailing. I am hopeful that we have options for an end of the year regatta. I’ll put out an update 12/23 after we know what the weekend brought.
Happy Holidays and ‘Think Ice”
Pete Johanson US 5633
The Countdown Begins!
There are only 14 days left to register for the 2025 DN Worlds and North American Championship at the discounted rate. Don’t miss out—secure your spot now!
In addition to receiving a regatta shirt when you register, you can also order exclusive branded regatta gear through a dedicated website. Check it out here.
Tom Meyer US602 and Bill Cutting US5430 with an A Skeeter on the ISA course in the background. Photo: Gretchen Dorian
2024 DN WESTERN REGION RESULTS
The DN Western Region Championship concluded successfully alongside the ISA Regatta despite challenging conditions. The final day brought damp, foggy weather with limited visibility that slowly improved as the morning progressed. Racing was delayed, and Steve Orlebeke US4926 volunteered as the “test dummy” to evaluate safety. He reported that the snow drifts were wet and slushy, and snow flew into his goggles, limiting visibility. Based on his recommendation, the regatta was called complete.
Saturday, however, provided a full day of racing with steady winds that made it possible to complete an impressive 10 races. The DN fleet took advantage of the conditions and wrapped up racing early in the afternoon, returning to the Water’s Edge Restaurant by 2:30 PM. The competition was fierce, with Chris Berger US5166 and Steve Orlebeke battling for the top spot in the Gold fleet throughout the day. The Silver fleet saw equally impressive performances, setting the stage for Sunday’s final results.
Still, the sailors from Lake Minnetonka embraced Sunday’s challenging conditions, heading out for hot laps to enjoy a final sail of the day. Their energy mirrored their impressive results throughout the weekend, nearly sweeping the top five in the Silver fleet. Dale Gordon of the 4LIYC in Madison, WI, claimed the top spot after a tiebreak with Minnesota’s Alexander Leach. Maggie McGary delivered a remarkable performance, securing 5th place, while Ben Garber, competing in only his second regatta, earned an impressive 3rd-place finish.
(On a personal note, as a scorer and race starter, I’ve been impressed with the Silver fleet both at the Western Challenge and the Western Region Championship—their discipline, readiness to race, and sailing skills have stood out as they consistently navigate all three laps of the course. -Deb)
Thank you to Western Region Commodore Chris Berger for helping make the regatta a reality. Chris also worked with artist Mary Derusha (daughter of Renegade sailor the late Roger Derusha) to create unique trophies for the event. Departing from the usual plaques, Chris chose one of Mary’s photos of ice as the trophy design, making these awards especially memorable.
Special recognition goes to Pat Heppert, who somehow juggled multiple roles during the event. While Pat is usually the DN PRO, this weekend, he not only set both the DN and ISA courses but also kept everything running smoothly—and still found time to race his C Skeeter on the ISA course!
Many thanks to Ann Foeller in Toledo, Ohio, for tabulating scores remotely and Julie Jankowski and Fred Stritt for monitoring the weather mark on both courses.
Finally, we want to thank the people of Starbuck, Minnesota, for their always warm welcome and the Water’s Edge Restaurant for graciously putting up with us throughout the weekend.
Gretchen Dorian’s photography once again captured the spirit of the regatta. She will be posting more from the event in the coming days. See them here.
And finally, have you registered for the 2025 World and North American Championship? The early entry discount expires on December 31, 2024. Register today here!
Gold fleet top 5: From left, Mike Bloom US321 3rd, Jeff Roseberry US5687 4th, Bill Cutting US5430 5th, Steve Orlebeke US4926, 2nd, and Chris Berger US5166 1st.
Silver fleet top 5: From left, Maggie McGary US2453 5th, Ben Garber US5667 3rd, Alexander Leach US244 2nd, and Dale Gordon US5696 1st. Not pictured Bill Eklund US5432 4th
The 2024 DN Western Region Championship has been called ON for December 14-15 at Lake Minnewaska, Starbuck, Minnesota!
This year, we’ll be sharing the launch and potentially the race course with the International Skeeter Association (ISA) Regatta and the Renegade Championship. The ISA is a three-day event starting December 13. The Race Committee will determine on the ice whether the DN fleet will share a course or have a separate one, depending on conditions.
Important Notes:
REGISTRATION
Online registration is mandatory and must be completed no later than 5:00 PM CT on Friday, December 13.
No in-person registration will be accepted.
If you registered and paid back in January 2024, you are all set. Just make sure to send your recent proof of insurance to secretary.idniyra@gmail.com
If you registered and paid back in January 2024, please let us know if you are able to attend. Email secretary.idniyra@gmail.com
PROOF OF INSURANCE
All DN participants must submit proof of liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000. This is mandatory to compete. Please email your proof of insurance to secretary.idniyra@gmail.org as soon as possible.
We look forward to an incredible weekend of ice sailing—see you at Lake Minnewaska!
WHAT TO KNOW
2024 DN Western Region Championship Notice of Race Sailing Instructions
DO NOT DRIVE ON THE ICE! Back your trailers on the ice.
If you registered and paid for the 2024 Western Region Championship back in January, you do not need to pay again . However, it is mandatory to submit proof of liability insurance in order to compete. Please email your proof of liability insurance to: secretary.idniyra@gmail.com.
If you didn’t register and pay last January, registration will reopen if the regatta is called on. Stay prepared, and let’s hope for great ice!
Via Western Region Commodore Chris Berger
The 2024 DN Western Region Championship has been called on for Lake Minnewaska in Starbuck, MN, scheduled for December 14–15, 2024.
The International Skeeter Association (ISA) Regatta has also been called on for the same location. This collaborative event promises an exciting weekend of ice sailing for all participating fleets.
Final confirmation will be posted by noon on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Stay tuned for updates, and we look forward to seeing you on the ice!
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